PSU Computer Science 101 Exam 1 Study questions and answers

Which term refers to a series of finite steps for solving a problem or carrying out a task? a. pattern b. algorithm c. decomposition d. level of abstraction - CORRECT ANSWER-algorithm Why are computer scientists interested in algorithm efficiency? a. Efficient algorithms increase the security of computer programs. b. Efficient algorithms always produce a programming blueprint that can easily be applied to any programming language. c. Efficient algorithms produce simple, straightforward computer programs with very few lines of code. d. Efficient algorithms tend to produce computer programs that operate efficiently, quickly, and reliably. - CORRECT ANSWER-d. Efficient algorithms tend to produce computer programs that operate efficiently, quickly, and reliably. An effective algorithm _____. a. applies to only one specific input b. terminates only upon user request c. produces at most one output d. produces one or more outputs - CORRECT ANSWER-d. produces one or more outputs A compiler uses ____ as input and generates ____ as output. a. binary executable files; object files b. object files; binary executable files c. source code; object code d. object code; source code - CORRECT ANSWER-c. source code; object code A(n) ____ is a software ut